It’s also the day Kalamazoo voters go to the polls to decide on a $62.16 million bond proposal to pay for upkeep of school buildings, construction of a new Washington Writers Academy and expansion of Hillside and Milwood middle schools.

View full sizeRebecca Bakken | Special to the Kalamazoo GazetteTori Zachery, 14, left, an eighth-grader at Hillside Middle School, and Natasha Mahonie, 10, a fifth-grader at Parkwood Upjohn Elementary School, work on a quilt together at the Ecumenical Senior Center in Kalamazoo on Feb. 20.“With a bond vote on May 4 and a presidential decision on May 4, there’s going to be a big day for us,” said Alex Lee, district spokesman.

While the Obama contest has gotten more publicity, the bond vote is more critical to the district’s future.

“If we lose this bond, then we can’t replace boilers when we need to replace boilers, we can’t repair roofs when roofs need replacement,” KPS Deputy Superintendent Gary Start said. “This is stuff that has to be done.”

One selling point for voters: The bond issue would not increase taxes. Because the district’s debt levy is scheduled to decrease next year by 0.71 mill, the bond issue can be financed by foregoing that decrease and maintaining the current millage rate of 5.32 mills.

District officials said a survey of likely voters conducted in December showed strong support for an even larger bond, even if it increased taxes. But a citizens committee that provided a recommendation on the bond package urged the board not to go beyond what could be handled by the current levy.

KPS BOND PROPOSAL

What: Kalamazoo Public Schools is seeking voter approval of a $62.16 million bond issue.When: May 4; polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Why: Bond proceeds would fund six years of repairs and upgrades to KPS buildings and technology, construction of a replacement for Washington Writers Academy and expansions at Hillside and Milwood middle schools.Cost to taxpayers: No tax increase. The district’s debt levy is scheduled to drop by 0.71 mill, so it would finance the bond by maintaining the current rate of 5.2 mills.

“I’m proud of the committee” for urging restraint, Start said. “One reason is that the economy is lousy. Also, we can’t afford to lose this vote.”

The bond issue is necessary because the bulk of the money — $43.9 million — would fund needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades for the next six years, Start said. The remainder would be used for new construction.

The biggest project would be replacing Washington Writers Academy with a new building on the same site at 1919 Portage St., at a cost of $11.7 million. Washington’s main building was constructed in 1919. Plans call for preserving the school’s gymnnasium, which is less than 10 years old.

The district also plans to spend about $6.6 million to add eight classrooms at Milwood Magnet School and 13 classrooms to Hillside Middle School. That would increase the district’s middle-school capacity by about 400 students, which is needed to accommodate the district’s growing enrollment.

Since creation of The Kalamazoo Promise scholarship program in 2005, “enrollment has increased faster than we would have guessed,” Start said. “If kids are going to be here, we need a place to put them.”

KPS voters have a history of supporting school-tax proposals, and there is no organized opposition to this bond proposal.

“It would shock me if it was turned down,” Start said.

But Superintendent Michael Rice said that it’s important for the district to make sure voters get to the polls. “When you have these small turnout elections, anything can happen,” Rice said.